Definition of a safe barrier for a motorcyclist A litterature study from 2015. Three authors who represents three fields: Maria Nordqvist, SMC/ the riders Göran Fredriksson, SVBRF /the barrier producers Jan Wenäll, VTI/the Swedish testhouse
The Swedish Motorcyclists Association - SMC Founded 1963 70 000 individual members, 400 clubs and 21 districts 30 % of the Swedish MC owners are members Offer loads of activities for riders all over Sweden Most important to our members is our political work including safety Safer roads and barriers is a top priority for our members! Cable barrierattack on E16 in 2001.
Motorcycle safety a shared responsibility Vision Zero: The responsibility for road safety is shared between those whodesign and thosewhousethe road transport system.
Barriers are the most common crash violence in fatal single vehicle crashes in Sweden Crash violence in fatal single accidents with motorcycles 2005-2013 (141 accidents) Local Public Tree Stone Barrier Pole Ditch Volt Other object Other In 3 outof 10 singel accidentsthe rider waskilledwhencrashing intoa barrier, whichcorresponds to 1 outof 10 fatalities Source: Indepthstudies of fatal motorcycle accidentson motorcycleswith2 wheelsin Sweden 2005-2013, The Swedish Transport Administration
The risk of fatality with barrier per 1000 vehicles higher risk for riders compared to motorists Source: The in-depth studies of fatal accidents, the Swedish Transport Administration and vehicle fleet SCB June 30 each year.
The risk of fatality per 1000 kilometer-higher risk for riders compared to motorists Source: Swedish Transport Administration in-depth studies of fatal accidents and annual mileage according to Trafikanalys. Mileage for a car estimated for 2014. Mileage MC estimated for 2013-2014
Higher fatality risk from guardrails than cars according to Prof. Clay Gabler The fatalityrisk canbe reducedby choice of barrier. Higherrisk to crash with unprotected poles compared to concrete barrier.
The high injury risk can easily be reduced All barriers are a risk for vulnerable road users Barriers with unprotected poles increase the risk Barriers where riders and/or the bike can get caught increase the risk Median barriers should not only prevent head-on collisions but also minimize injury risk in case of collision The risk for riders can be reduced with a wise choice of barrier
Rider got stuck on topof the barrier
The high injury risk can easily be reduced More examples Forgiving roadsides instead of barriers A recovery zone with a wide paved shoulder A smooth barrier reduce the risk Include motorcyclists in the harmonized standards (EN 1317) Prevent the three most common crash scenarios
Finally, loss of friction increase the risk! Photos from E4, several fatal and seriously injured due to loss of friction in connection with road repair
A safe barrier for motorcyclists is a barrier where you cannot be thrown over in a collision free from protruding parts where parts of the body and/or the motorcycle can get caught free from openings, vertical or horizontal, where parts of the body and/or the motorcycle can become trapped with a smooth upper surface free from unprotected posts in both the ground level as the top side with energy-absorbing MPS free from attachments which involve a higher risk of injury and located at a distance from the road surface allowing a recovery space
Classification of barriers based on motorcycle collision-friendly features Rating on scale from -1 to 5 Non-desirable features are followed by ** injury reducing design features
Classification of barriers, rate = -1 Protruding parts on the barrier side and top, accessible posts cc <4 m, sharp edges, large openings in horizontal and vertical direction, uneven side and top, overrun possible (Cable barrier with protruding hooks). Right photo: Fatal motorcycle crashe 16 15 polesdestroyed, highspeed. Body parts spread over the road.
Classification of barriers, rate = 0 W-beam, reference barrier; worlds most used barrier. Accessible posts cc <4 m, sharp edges, large openings in horizontal and vertical directions, uneven top, overrun possible. ** Smooth barrier profile. Right photo, fatal crash, rider 2016 E6
Classification of barriers, rate = 1 Accessible posts cc <4 m, sharp edges, large openings in horizontal and vertical directions, overrun possible. ** Smooth barrier profile with smooth / covered upper side, dividing box beam guard rail ( roofed W-beam) with smooth steel profile both side and top.
Classification of barriers, rate = 2 Uneven top, overrun possible. ** Smooth barrier profile, MPS function is, however, nonenergy absorbing: Concrete barriers. Note: Never putlargepoleson topof the concretebarrier! At leastonefatal crashin Sweden has beencausedby a pole.
Classification of barriers, rate = 3 Uneven top, overrun possible. ** Smooth barrier profile, energy-absorbing MPS (Wbeam with MPS according to 1317-8)
Classification of barriers, rate = 4 Overrun possible. ** Smooth barrier profile, energy absorbing MPS, smooth top( Euskirchen Plus )
Classification of barriers, rate = 5 ** Smooth side with energy-absorbing MPS, smooth top, overrun protection fitted (NA)?
Recommendations to road agencies Address the problem of barriers and motorcycles Start a national program with a budget including exchange of existing and installation of new barriers Cooperate with insurance companies at repairs Increase the use of barriers in class 2+. Review the demands for barriers on the TEN-T roads, always use class 2+ barriers Huge innovation possibilities for barriers producers for safer barriers on TEN-T roads. However, the producers need a demand from the national authorities
More recommendations Use forgiving road sides instead of side barriers Increase the distance between barrier and road Introduce a program for paved shoulders, especially in bends Make use of the national information about injuries in fatal and serious crashes with barriers Ask for statisticsfrom insurance companies costs for the barriers, vehicles and personal injuries
Final recommendations Use the classification table of barriers while waiting for a standard Initiate a new test method An urgent need for a standard why not simplify with an open standard? Include the total costs in the choice of barriers (maintenance and socio-economic costs) Cost for loss of 16 lives in three years, 50 000 000
Thanks! Contact information: maria.nordqvist@svmc.se Web: www.svmc.se